The holiday season is upon us. For many, that means choosing a Christmas tree. Whether you’re cutting your own, heading to a lot or choosing a live tree, there’s a lot to be learned by a hike in one of the Pacific Northwest’s many natural areas.
Ask friends for a good hike or look into one of the many books on hiking areas where you live. Gather a group and take a walk to see what you can discover. Make it fun by challenging everyone to find each of the most common Christmas trees: Douglas fir, noble fir and grand fir.
You can find descriptions of each tree in Oregon State University Extension Service’s “Trees to Know in Oregon and Washington” by Ed Jensen, professor emeritus in the College of Forestry.
If you’re going to cut down a tree in the wild, go to the U.S. Department of Forestry website at www.recreation.gov/tree-permits for a permit. Acceptable forests are listed on the federal website. Having the book in hand while you’re looking for a tree can help you identify which tree you’re getting as you traipse through the forest.
Ed’s book describes more than 125 trees, each illustrated with several photos, as well as keys that winnow down the genus (plant group). Ed provides written identification and tells stories about each tree, including uses, history and plant characteristics. The book is available for purchase in the OSU Extension catalog.
Once you decide on your favorite tree to display, here are some tips for making sure it’s healthy and caring for it once you have it home:
- To tell if a tree is fresh, look at the base to see if the needles are firmly attached.
- Avoid trees with dry needles that break off easily.
- Branches should be flexible. Shake a branch to see if it moves easily. Check the smallest branches, which dry out first.
- If more than a few hours lapse between the time you cut the tree and the time you get it home, cut a little slice off the base to allow water to enter the trunk and provide the tree with sufficient water throughout the holidays. If it has been a few days since you brought the tree home, slice off the base and put the tree in a bucket of water to keep it fresh.
- Use a tree stand that’s appropriate for the size of the tree.
- It is important to keep your tree watered. Don’t let it dry out, or it will start to lose needles. Don’t add anything to the water.
- Some trees last longer than others. Nordmann, Turkish and noble can last all of December if kept watered. Douglas fir, which are less expensive and have a distinctive pine scent, don’t last as long.
- Keep trees away from heat sources.
Go to https://tinyurl.com/bdffpkxp to buy “Trees to Know in Oregon and Washington.”